Steely Dan - Gaucho Outtakes

The Dan, you either get 'em or you don't, but if you do you're in for a treat, otherwise it's like going to see Star Wars and expecting Spock. Fagen and Becker knew this was a high standard to live up to, although their personal standards were higher, and as such, following the success of 77's Aja, they finally returned to the studio to record the infinitely complicated Gaucho. The "infinitely complicated" part is simply a fact, nothing derogatory inferred, though their then label, MCA, might not have found it favorable. Rumors abounded that the group, having recorded material closer in style to that of the aforementioned Aja, decided to leave off the more commercial sounding fare in favor of more obscure pieces like the title cut. This is purely speculation of course, but it's true that much more material was recorded that never saw the light of day, including the almost lost jewel that is The Second Arrangement.

If you're not familiar with the debacle that is The Second Arrangement, it was the first song the band had finished for the album and they were reportedly thoroughly pleased with it. Unfortunately, on a short leave while an assistant engineer prepared the track for playback, it was discovered that this employee had accidentally erased three-fourths of the finished recording. Of course, Fagen and Becker were broken-hearted. They were persuaded to attempt a re-recording, which they did and completed, but they weren't satisfied and left the track to languish somewhere in a studio vault.

You could say the sessions for Gaucho almost seemed cursed, what with the Arrangement fiasco, but any curse could probably be blamed on the band themselves. Their studio perfectionism drove people insane, immense amounts of late seventies money was spent on recording equipment including an early full frequency drum machine, Becker and Fagen reportedly had substance issues, and this was all on their last album for MCA. MCA was trying to squeeze every dime they could out of the group, understandably, but the band was upset to learn MCA was going to try to charge extra for their new album, and even if only a dollar it was a dollar they didn't want to see charged.

In the end, Gaucho emerged a wondrous beast all the same, earning kudos across the board for years to come and featuring the wonderful Hey Nineteen, forever a yacht-rock staple and held in such acclaim that John Belushi reportedly wanted to write a movie based on its story. Of course, this was the last Steely Dan album that would appear for many years to come, caused by the failing of the partnership between Becker and Fagen as well as personal issues in Becker's life. Fagen would record The Nightfly, not terribly distant from the sound of the Dan probably in part from so many of their associates participating in its recording, and it would go on to be recognized as a classic both for its musical content and its recording quality, making it an essential testing benchmark for sound systems the world over.

Below you'll find a link to thirteen outtakes from the Gaucho sessions. There are a few piano demos that circulate with most of the tracks but I've left them out because they're not really from the album's sessions, they're more like songwriting demos. Some of these tracks are alternate takes or mixes, some are completely unreleased tracks and some are familiar in some ways but not others. You'll also find the enchanting Second Arrangement, good enough it could be released on its own as the long-lost Dan number that it is. It may never see the light of day officially, but at least you can hear it. Damn, these guys were really good!


Steely Dan - Gaucho Outtakes

01 Were You Blind That Day?
02 The Second Arrangement
03 The Bear
04 Glamour Profession
05 Kind Spirit
06 Gaucho
07 Talking About My Home
08 My Rival
09 I Can't Write Home About You
10 Time Out Of Mind
11 Babylon Sisters
12 Kulee Baba
13 Gaucho (Instrumental)